Melanie Walters is swapping the world of Gavin & Stacey for the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom after deciding it was time to take on a challenge outside her comfort zone.
The actress, best known for playing Gwen in the hit BBC sitcom, admits she has no formal dance training but has always loved dancing.
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Now in her 60s, Melanie is determined to embrace the opportunity while encouraging other women her age not to feel that they are "past it".
Why is Melanie Walters doing Strictly Come Dancing?
For Melanie, taking part in Strictly was very much a case of "now or never".
She said she felt it was the right time to dive into something completely different from her normal life.
"I'm not getting any younger!"
Although she has appeared in musicals and pantomimes over the years, Melanie says she has generally played character roles rather than performing as a dancer.
She has also never had any formal dance training, although she has always enjoyed dancing for fun.
"We're talking disco, not clubbing!"
Melanie sees Strictly as an opportunity to push her boundaries, learn beautiful routines and perform them on live television.
What is Melanie Walters most nervous about on Strictly?
Melanie is feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves ahead of meeting her professional dance partner.
She is particularly looking forward to learning the techniques behind Ballroom dancing because she has very little experience in the style.
"I'm nervous about my head saying "yes I can do that move", but my body disagreeing!"
She is also excited about discovering the glamorous outfits she will get to wear throughout the competition.
Can Melanie Walters dance?
Melanie admits she does not know how to describe her own signature dance move.
"Not a clue how you would describe it… I think it might be called "freestyle"."
Her friends, however, appear to have more faith in her abilities.
While Melanie says her family have probably never seen her dance enough to offer an opinion, her friends think she is "quite a good mover".
She is now hoping to transform that freestyle ability into proper Ballroom and Latin technique.
Which Strictly dances does Melanie Walters want to perform?
Melanie has already picked out several of her favourite Strictly styles.
She particularly enjoys watching waltzes, quicksteps and tangos and is hoping she gets the opportunity to perform them during the competition.
"There've been too many brilliant routines to choose one, but in general as a viewer I love a waltz, a quickstep and a tango! Those are the ones I'm especially hoping to do on the show."
What did Melanie Walters' family say about Strictly?
Melanie's friends were delighted when they found out she was joining the Strictly cast.
She said her family are extremely close and have always supported whatever she decides to do, even if they do not necessarily understand why she does it.
"My friends were just absolutely delighted. My family and I are so close and they are always so supportive of whatever I do – even though they don't understand why I do it!"
Why is Melanie Walters doing Strictly for women over 60?
Melanie wants her Strictly journey to encourage women in their 60s to embrace opportunities rather than believing they are too old.
She says she is primarily taking part for herself and for everyone over 60 who might otherwise shy away from trying something new.
"I'm primarily doing Strictly for myself and everybody who is over 60."
Melanie believes people should continue learning and growing regardless of their age.
"We're always learning and growing at whatever age. There's no such thing as being 'past it', things may become different as we get older but we're no less valid."
What does Melanie Walters want to achieve on Strictly?
Melanie's main ambition is to learn a completely new skill while having as much fun as possible.
She describes dancing as freeing and a powerful way of expressing yourself.
The opportunity to learn directly from Strictly's professional dancers is something she considers almost too good to be true.
"I'm getting a weekly masterclass – unbelievable! I just want to dive into Strictly heels first and give it 100 percent."
What is Melanie Walters' dream Strictly song?
Melanie does not have one particular song that she would call her permanent favourite.
Instead, her favourite song tends to change depending on her mood.
She explained that she can hear a song, decide it is the best song ever and listen to it repeatedly while dancing around her living room as though she were already on Strictly.
By the following week, however, an entirely different song can take its place.
Melanie is therefore looking forward to discovering the new songs that could become her favourites during the competition.
Who does Melanie Walters play in Gavin & Stacey?
Melanie Walters is best known for playing Gwen West in Gavin & Stacey.
Her character is the mother of Stacey and the mother-in-law of Smithy, and is known for her cooking and famously chaotic family life.
Melanie was asked whether Gwen would be capable of flipping an omelette while performing the Cha Cha Cha.
"I think Gwen could do absolutely anything whilst simultaneously making an omelette."
She joked that if Gwen competed on Strictly, the contestants, crew, hosts and judges would all be guaranteed to be well fed.
Melanie also imagined Nessa teaching Gwen, Bryn taking responsibility for her wardrobe and Gwen creating some of her own sequinned outfits.
"She would be given extra training by Nessa (who taught Shirley Ballas all she knows) and Bryn would take over her wardrobe, in his element choosing the sequinned dresses for her."
Does Melanie Walters have a Strictly backstage ritual?
Melanie expects she will eventually develop a backstage ritual to help her prepare for each performance.
However, she does not yet know what that ritual will be because she wants to see how her first week goes.
She knows one thing already: it cannot be too complicated.
"I'll need to make sure it's not too lengthy or complicated as I will have to do it every week from there on in!"
Melanie Walters' Strictly Come Dancing 2026 journey
Melanie is entering Strictly without formal dance training, but she is determined to make the most of the experience.
Her goal is to learn, have fun and prove that taking on something completely new is possible at any age.
With her love of dancing, acting experience and determination to step outside her comfort zone, Melanie is ready to trade Gwen's kitchen for the Strictly dancefloor.
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